With the public shelter secured for public use, now would seem to be a suitable moment to pause for reflection before embarking on any new Longboat proposals.

As I said at the public meeting of March 24, 2010: an opportunity had been lost for a high quality, sensitive, redevelopment of the Longboat, which reflected its history and purpose, to the benefit of all. With goodwill, we now have a second chance to get this right.

What has been so disappointing in this saga is the way the immense public concern over this very public space has been either ignored or dismissed as a minority view. Indeed, the local election result showed it was by no means a minority view.

This narrow, exposed, and highly seasonal site within the World Heritage Site has severe limitations on the extent of the commercial development it can sustain and the visual impact it can absorb.

Our newly elected local councillors have publicly committed themselves to maintaining the character of the town and have now, thankfully, safeguarded the well-used shelter.

Any two storey structure on the remaining site would inevitably conflict with the grandeur of the adjacent cliff and thus be inappropriate in our uninterrupted expanse of heritage coastline.

David Daniel

Marine Parade

Budleigh Salterton